Walter Lindekens

Hi, As per the relevant Air Publication, the Blenheim had a De Havilland variable-pitch prop Type 4/3, D.I.S. No 19 of 10 ft 9 in diameter. The Lysander's prop, also De Havilland variable-pitch, is quoted as a D.I.S. No 15 of 11 ft 0 in diameter. What exactly D.I.S. refers to is to be found in Air Publication 1538 Vol I, of which I sadly don't have a copy. Anyway, Lizzie's prop is larger in diameter by 70mm if I converted correctly, which in 1/32nd scale is 2.19 mm. Cheers, Walter

Great photo, isn't it, I've got it in my Blenheim collection as well, found somewhere on the web ages ago. The fuel dump pipes make it a Mk IV, this had extra tanks in the outer wing sections which the Mk I didn't have (the tanks that is). For an emergency landing with full fuel load the contents of the outer tanks could be dumped. Would have to disagree with the gear legs being black though, they just look muddy/dirty to me :). The black visible through the openings in the nacelle side is indeed the main fuel tank. It is my understanding that self sealing fuel tanks were a reddish colour, if that's correct then this early Mk IV didn't have them fitted (yet). Happy to be corrected though. Cheers, Walter

Thank you Graham, Geoffrey and Paul for your valuable input! The message referrred to by Paul clearly answers my question. Could one then one also conclude that the few 2 Group Blenheim squadrons that participated in the "1000 Raids" in May and June 1942 were still carrying the Temperate Sea Scheme on their upper surfaces? Their undersurfaces received a coat of black distemper for those ops. Cheers, Walter

Another Blenheim question! From about April 1941 onwards 2 Group's Blenheim squadrons were heavily involved in anti-shipping ops. Stuart R. Scott in "Battle Axe Blenheims" mentions how 105 Sqn's aircraft were re-finished in Temperate Sea Scheme colours for this purpose. And in his "The Bristol Blenheim - A complete history", Graham Warner also describes how most of the 2 Group Blenheims had their camouflage changed from Temperate Land to Temperate Sea Scheme. Besides those anti-shipping ops however those 2 Group Blenheims were still employed on the occasional bombing trip to occupied Europe, and there were the "Circus", "Roadstead" and "Fringe" operations as well. Obviously the Temperate Sea Scheme would be less effective when flying over land so I was wondering if the squadrons involved would have held a number of aircraft in the Temperate Land Scheme for the operations other than anti shipping. Any thoughts on this matter would be welcomed. Cheers, Walter

From the photo's I've studied it would appear that the black finish for the undercarriage legs was only to be found on Mk I's, the Mk IV's legs being finished in silver paint. As for the wheel well and bomb bay colour's I'd agree with the others on interior green. Remember that a Blenheim's bomb doors (held closed by bungee cords) are opened by the falling bombs and snap shut again immediately after. Cheers, Walter

Hi Matt, it's the details for the Bristol B1 Mk IV turret you're after. If you'd care to pop me a PM with your e-mail address I'll gladly send you copies out of the related Air Publication. There's a bit more to it than a tiny seat and a couple of ammunition boxes, it is quite a complicated set-up really 😀. Cheers, Walter

Hi Tweener, Sure, PM me your e-mail address please and I will gladly send you those drawings. Cheers, Walter

Hi all, As pointed out above these were indeed internal bomb cells, closed by spring loaded doors, two per cell. They were used to carry forced landing or reconnaissance flares but I seem to have picked up somewhere they could be used for practice bombs too. Section of Bristol drawing nr 58531 showing the structure of the wing centre section and the position of the two bomb cells: Extract out of AP1530B Vol I showing various ordnance combinations: Illustration out of the same AP1530B Vol I showing the bottom of the wing centre section, clearly showing the two bomb cells: Cheers, Walter

Best Blenheim drawings I've come accross so far are those produced in 2001 by Martin Lébl for I believe a Czech magazine and he covered the Finnish versions. I briefly corresponded with Mr Lébl some time ago and he mentioned he'd obtained all of his reference material from Finland... If you'd care to PM me your e-mail address I'll be happy to send you copies of the scans I have. Cheers, Walter

Just came across these two very informative video's on the .303 Browning: https://youtu.be/cCkvyjGQ2xg https://youtu.be/jqq3Jf3Jpxo?t=1 Cheers, Walter

Hi all, I've studied the .303 Browning in some detail and I've never come across any photo or documentation mentioning round cooling holes. To my knowledge the round cooling holes are only found on the US .30 ANM2 (from which the British Browning was developed) whereas the elongated cooling slots typify the British gun. Note that the bit with the cooling slots is officially known as the barrel casing and that this is swaged into the gun body and as per the manual should not be removed on unit level. The barrel itself is removed for cleaning from the back of the gun. Also, the .303 Browning barrel casing is tapered whereas the US version appears to be straight. Cheers, Walter

Unless you mean the other type of LR fuel tank of course, like so : Cheers, Walter

Hi Richard, See below please, from AP1517A Vol I, "The Swordfish I Aircraft": Cheers, Walter

Hi all, No luck with the RAF Museum I'm afraid, they haven't got the Anson Mk I modification leaflets in their collection. Cheers, Walter

Hi all, I in meantime found out that the modification that called for the tailplane bracing is Mod. Nr 108 so would seem to be a fairly early one. No date though so I've e-mailed the RAFM asking if they have the Anson Modification Leaflets in their collection and if they could check the date of Mod 108 for me. To be continued :). Cheers, Walter